Mixing Alcohol and Antibiotics: Is It Safe?

Antibiotics are prescribed for many bacterial infections, but is mixing alcohol and antibiotics actually dangerous? Here’s what you should know.

Are you taking antibiotics? If you’re considering having a drink to help you recover, relax, and unwind, you might want to think again. Mixing alcohol and antibiotics can result in uncomfortable or even dangerous side effects. Because of this, most doctors recommend avoiding it in the first place.

But just how dangerous is it to mix antibiotics and alcohol, really? Which antibiotic drugs are highly interactive, and what kind of symptoms might you experience, should you decide to indulge?

It’s important to be safe and in control of your health. Let us help you better understand this complex topic so you can make safer, healthier decisions.

What Are Antibiotics?

Antibiotics are drugs that target and attack harmful bacteria in the body. Some drugs work by directly attacking and killing bad bacteria directly, while others prevent bacteria from reproducing. Both approaches essentially make it easier for your own body to fight off, and eliminate, the bad bacteria over time.

• Narrow-spectrum antibiotics: are formulated to attack only specific bacteria, which can be advantageous if there are concerns and harming natural gut flora. Targeted antibiotics may also be more effective in treating severe or complex infections.
• Broad-spectrum antibiotics: treat infections caused by an exhaustive list of known harmful and beneficial bacteria. Doctors often turn to these drugs first because of their wide scope of usefulness, although they may not be as effective at treating certain infections. BSAs also carry a higher risk for gastrointestinal upset because they kill off good and bad bacteria, including natural gut flora.

If your doctor prescribes antibiotics, it’s because he or she believes you have an infection that may not clear up without treatment or harm. You should take your antibiotics as directed, until finished, unless your doctor advises you otherwise.

Mixing Alcohol and Antibiotics

Not all antibiotics interact with alcohol. However, many of the drugs that are contraindicated with drinking are extremely common. That said, you’ll likely be receive these antibiotics at least once throughout your life.

That’s exactly why being aware of them, and the side effects they can cause, is so important.

In the following list, you’ll find a breakdown of antibiotic drug categories and how they interact with alcohol.

Common Antibiotic Interactions With Alcohol

Please be aware that the names on this list are generic only; your prescription could be the same drug under a different brand name. If you aren’t sure whether your prescription falls into one of these categories, it’s best to speak with your compounding pharmacist directly for advice.

– Tetracyclines

Both doxycycline and minocycline interact poorly with alcohol.

Drinking renders doxycycline ineffective, while ingesting alcohol with minocycline could lead to serious liver disease or liver failure. There are similar risks with erythromycin, too.

– Oxazolidinones

Oxazolidinones like linezolid and isoniazid should never be mixed with alcohol because the risk for extremely uncomfortable side effects is exceptionally high.

Patients who drink during treatment often experience intense anxiety, heart palpitations, high fevers, confusion, rapid breathing, extreme nausea, high blood pressure, seizures, and even coma or death.

– Sulfonamides

Drugs like sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim (called “sulfa drugs”) are often prescribed for urinary tract infections. If you drink alcohol while taking them, you could increase your risk for rare folic acid deficiencies.

This is of special concern to women of child-bearing age who are currently attempting to become pregnant.

– Fluoroquinolones

Fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin are commonly prescribed for skin infections, kidney infections, urinary tract infections, and ear infections.

You may develop serious side effects including attention problems, disorientation, confusion, anxiety, aggressiveness, memory loss, and issues with cognitive dysfunction if you mix this drug with alcohol.

– Nitroimidazole

This category includes metronidazole, tinidazole, cefoperazone, cefotetan, and ketoconazole and interacts poorly with alcohol. All are commonly prescribed in the treatment of oral and vaginal infections.

Nitroimidazoles interact with alcohol to cause moderate to severe abdominal cramping, intense nausea, frequent vomiting, severe headache, and facial flushing. These symptoms may occur even if you drink up to three days after treatment ends.

If you are prescribed one or more of these drugs, you should mixing alcohol and antibiotics is dangerous and you should avoid or limit the alcohol you drink until treatment is over. Foods cooked with alcohol generally do not pose as much of a risk, but may still trigger nausea in some patients.

Alcohol as an Immunosuppressive

Whether or not you are prescribed a drug known to interact poorly with alcohol, there are other important reasons to avoid it while you’re sick. Evidence shows that alcohol acts like an immunosuppressant in the human body, rendering the immune system less effective at fighting off infections.

What does this mean for you?

That cold beer on a hot day could mean you recover from your infection more slowly – or even not at all.

The risk for immunosuppression also correlates with how much you drink and whether or not you have pre-existing health problems.

• Someone who is young with a relatively healthy immune system, and is suffering from a mild skin infection, for example, probably isn’t going to suffer much from just one drink.
• A senior patient who has Diabetes who has three drinks every evening, however, is much more likely to experience immunosuppressive effects.

Then, there are the side effects of alcohol to consider, too. Alcohol dehydrates you; if you’re struggling with any kind of congestion or cold, you may find your symptoms worsen if you drink.

It is also very hard on the liver, cardiovascular system, and neurological function, all of which play a role in recovery from any illness.

Common Questions About Mixing The Two

Conclusion

Overall, there’s really nothing wrong with drinking in moderation, but drinking while you’re sick isn’t usually healthy or wise. Mixing alcohol and antibiotics is just not a good idea. Between negative interactions, dehydration, and other associated risks, it just isn’t worth it.

Instead, take care of yourself by drinking plenty of fluids, such as fresh orange juice, tea, and plain water. Try your best to nourish your body with wholesome foods when taking antibiotics.

If you need more suggestions, your pharmacist is just a call away – don’t be afraid to reach out!